Get a glimpse of the Willamette Valley’s pioneer and industrial history through this campus’ collection of historic buildings. The Willamette Heritage Center connects generations by preserving and interpreting the history of the Mid-Willamette Valley. The fourteen historic structures on site house permanent and changing exhibits, a research library and archive, textile learning center, and rentable event spaces. The five-acre campus is also home to retail shops, art galleries, cooperative artist studios, and offices run by Willamette Heritage Center’s partner organizations. More

This grove of giant Sequoias was planted by students of the Class of 1942 in honor of Willamette University’s 100th anniversary. Founded by Jason Lee in 1842, Willamette University is recognized as the oldest university in the west. In 1997, the campus started an annual holiday tradition by lighting the Star Trees from mid-December to January. They are now considered to be the tallest Christmas trees on a college campus in America. Located on State Street on Willamette University grounds, Salem More

This Greenleaf Japanese Maple was planted by Governor Tom McCall in late 1973 or early 1974 during his second term of office. McCall is remembered for many enviornmental achievements, such as the "Beach Bill" which granted the state government the power to zone Oregon’s beaches, thus protecting them from private development, and the "Bottle Bill" which was the nation’s first mandatory bottle-deposit law, designed to decrease litter in Oregon. Located in State Capitol State Park More

Visit the Oregon State Capitol in Salem year-round with free building tours and activities and fun shopping at the Capitol Store. In summer, climb 121 stairs to get up close and personal with the Oregon Pioneer. Be amazed by history of the past and history in the making. This building, Oregon's third Capitol, was built in 1938. For more information, visit OregonCapitol.com. More

This Douglas Fir was raised from seed carried to the moon by astronaut Stuart Roosa of the Apollo 14 moon mission in 1971. It was the first "Moon Tree" to be planted in Oregon and was planted by Governor Bob Straub on Arbor Day, April 30, 1976 for America’s bicentennial. Located on Court Street in Willson Park, State Capitol grounds, Salem More

Oregon has long been a land of high adventure! But few contemporary "extreme sport" adventurers can hold a candle to Oregon's original daredevil. 83-years ago, a man rode a 12-foot canvas boat over the biggest waterfall in Silver Falls State Park. The run was one of many foamy adventures the high flying whitewater-loving daredevil, Al… More

Judge William Waldo, the son of an 1842 pioneer, planted this sequoia in 1872. Waldo made efforts during his lifetime to preserve the tree and over time others have saved it from the encroaching street system. In 1936 the Salem City Council declared the site, a twelve by twenty foot plot of land, a city park. Located in Waldo Park at 605 Summer St. N.E. at the corner Summer and Union Streets More

This pear tree is one of the oldest and largest in Oregon. It is the lone survivor of an orchard planted by the Munkre family, later known as Hager’s Grove. Benjamin Franklin Munkre brought his family to Oregon from Missouri in the middle 1800s. The orchard bordered a once popular creekside camping and playground area. Located on the North side of Hwy 22 east of I-5 junction More

In the Pacific Northwest Truck Museum, you will see some of the great working vehicles that developed the Pacific Northwest. These wonderfully restored antique trucks, parts and memorabilia also show the significant and unique innovations in the development of trucks brought about by the longer distances and rough terrain of this part of the country. We have over 75 trucks by GMC, Freightliner, International, Kenworth, Mack, and Peterbilt, long-gone Autocar, Moreland, Samson, White, and Yellow-Knight, and many other makes. Seeing these trucks will recall trucking... More

This Oregon White Oak reflects the early practice of using landmarks as survey markers for property boundaries. With time, these original markers have disappeared. The Witness Tree served as a survey marker for the southeast corner of the Claiborne C. Walker donation Land Claim. The original markings scribed into the tree’s trunk on July 8, 1854, were carved away for an unknown reason, leaving a large cavity in the tree. Located at Witness Tree Vineyard, 7111 Spring Valley Rd. NW, Salem More

The mission of the Heritage Museum is to preserve and display the history and culture of the river town of Independence and Polk County through collections of artifacts, documents, and photographs and to make them available to the public by means of tours, programming and access to files and to work with other historical groups and community organizations. The museum has many items and exhibits on display including an exhibit on Independence’s history as the Hop Capital of the World, and the “On to Oregon”... More

This giant black cottonwood stands near the site of the Willamette Mission established by Reverend Jason Lee in 1834. At the time, the mission and tree were located on the banks of the Willamette River. The great flood in 1861 changed the river course to its present channel leaving what is now Mission Lake. The Willamette Mission Cottonwood is the largest of its kind in Oregon and the nation. Located in Willamette Mission State Park More

In 1854, fifteen-year-old Florinda Geer stuck her black cottonwood riding switch in the ground after returning from a horse ride. The stripling took root and grew to become this monumental tree. Florinda married Timothy Davenport and in 1868 gave birth to Homer Davenport, the nationally famous political cartoonist, who spent many of his early years at this homestead. The Daughters of the American Revolution first memorialized this tree in 1936 and in 1986 it was designated as Marion County’s first Heritage Tree. Located at GeerCrest... More

Just southeast of the sweet community of Amity, a winding country road abruptly stops on the banks of the Willamette River. You’ve arrived at the Wheatland Ferry, a functioning link between the Amity area and metro Salem More

If you want to deepen your connection with Oregon history, consider taking a trip to Polk County near Salem. You can quickly gather a sense of place by exploring the local museums, where you will discover fascinating stories of the region dating back to before Oregon statehood. The Polk County Museum in Rickreall is the repository for… More

Founded in 1852, Buena Vista Ferry is one of the oldest continuous operating ferries in the state. The current ferry has been in continuous operation since 1955 providing daily shuttle service to the public, including motorized vehicles, from April through October each year. Today, two of the three remaining Willamette River ferries still inoperation are both in Marion County – Wheatland and Buena Vista. More

The seasons are changing – that’s what the calendar says – but this week, Grant shows us another sign of fall: harvest of Oregon’s abundant and locally-produced fruits and vegetables at family markets that are distinctive Oregon Century Farms. You can meet some of the friendliest folks – people like Gerry Frank – down on the farm.… More

Built in 1899 and in continuous use, the Courthouse?s distinctive structure is the third building, replacing the wooden courthouse destroyed by fire in 1898. The courtroom dcor contains some original vintage furniture and related furnishings More

The verdant hills and rambling creeks of the Willamette Valley set the stage for this pocket of communities west of Salem. Long an abundant homeland for native tribes and later a productive farming and logging locale, this region’s lush landscape is still a powerful draw. It all feels a bit like a local’s secret, where… More

The Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel were established in Oregon in 1882 by a small group of Sisters from Switzerland. In 1887 construction was started on the Monastery. This giant sequoia was planted in 1893 by Sister Protasia Schindler, one of the first American women to enter the religious community. She found the seedling beside the railroad tracks and planted it very close to the Monastery not knowing what type of tree it was and how large it could grow. Located at Queen of Angels... More

Designed and built by Charles Brown in 1903, this Queen Anne style home was the first in Stayton to have indoor plumbing and electrical wiring built into the structure. The house was purchased by the Santiam Heritage Foundation in 2000 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See website for tour and event rental information. More

A centerpiece in Mt. Angel, the glockenspiel showcases the town's proud Swiss-German heritage. (Every September, the community hosts the Pacific Northwest's largest Oktoberfest.) The Glockenspiel plays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily. This is a stop off the Silver Falls Tour Route. More